Falling Unemployment Sends Mixed Message
Unemployment in the United States has fallen to its lowest rate since March of 2009, registering at 8.6 percent for November. But as encouraging as this sounds, it is not an absolute indicator that a recovery has commenced. In order to regain economic prowess on a global scale, the U.S. needs to turn its attention toward manufacturing.
The overall figures detail which specific fields these new jobs were gained: leisure and hospitality jobs went up by 22,000; professional and business services rose by 33,000; health care jobs increased by 17,000; even retail trade rose 50,000 jobs, which is almost certainly a reflection of retailers’ holiday season preparation.
But in the midst of all of this, manufacturing jobs in the United States did not change at all. This is especially concerning – it means the same shopping season that increased labor in the stores had no impact on the American factories that should be producing them. American consumers are preparing for a spending spree in stores with shelves overflowing in clothes and appliances produced abroad. Billions of dollars will be pouring right into the hands of our competition overseas.
Without a solid base of manufacturing, the United States will continue to fall behind countries like China. The national debt affects the well-being of the entire nation, and as we spend more and more money on imported goods, the United States gets poorer and poorer. It’s not entirely the fault of every consumer, since the numbers clearly show that the domestic production of merchandise is stagnant.
During one of the most economically thriving periods of American history, the 1950s, one out of every three jobs was in manufacturing. The U.S. sustained itself and provided the rest of the world with goods produced on American soil. Times may have changed, but the formula for a flourishing society has not. Regardless of how many low-paying jobs are created in retail, it doesn’t help the economy if the products being sold are made in China. The unemployment rate may show a decline, but a poverty-stricken country simply replaces joblessness with underemployment.
There are obviously a number of issues that have contributed to our economic woes, and a lack of jobs is one of the most significant. But the United States did not become a superpower based solely on health care and hospitality jobs. These positions are extremely important to the American people, but we need to focus on increasing the foundation of American prosperity: manufacturing. Only by returning to our roots of producing at home and exporting to the world will the U.S. climb out of this economic abyss. A falling unemployment rate is certainly good news – but its impact and longevity could be greatly reduced if it doesn’t reflect a revival in manufacturing.
